Was This Appropriate?

[Shadow111]

A few Sundays ago, during the sermon, our pastor was talking about how God made Adam from clay. Then he went on to say, "yeah, Adam was made from clay, dirt, dust, mud. So what you might say, is that we are all God's dirtbags!"

I was stunned and very much offended. I have not been back to hear him preach - there are different folks preaching every week and he was on again this past Sunday. I am still shocked by what he said and really would like to have others' opinions about this. My husband was just as shocked as I.

Thoughts?

 

[Zalu]

It seems to me like it was meant as a joke. As Adam was made from dust, and we are the descendants of him, along with being born into depravity & sin. We're drawn towards evil things inherently. If it was meant as a rude comment towards all of you that were there, then it would be a different story.

 

[miss-a]

Kindly and respectfully ask him about this. He may not realize it is offensive and telling him may cause him to address the congregation. Even if it was a joke, it's best if he knows it was offensive and could stumble people.

 

[Kaitlin08]

I'm not sure what point he was trying to make, but it's not inappropriate.

 

[Johnnz]

We are image bearers of God, the pinnacle of His creative activity. Although we are fallen we never lose that status. Read Psalm 8. Grovelling is not our destiny. We glorify God most of all by fulfilling his designs for us and becoming fully human. Jesus was the first perfect human - God with eyebrows, toenails, hair and skin. That's why he is referred to as the second Adam, the full restoration of humanity.

John
NZ

 

[JCFantasy23]

I doubt he meant offense, probably thought it was a cute and apt term and not everyone will agree. I wouldn't worry about it, we all see certain words differently.

 

[laconicstudent]

A few Sundays ago, during the sermon, our pastor was talking about how God made Adam from clay. Then he went on to say, "yeah, Adam was made from clay, dirt, dust, mud. So what you might say, is that we are all God's dirtbags!"

I was stunned and very much offended. I have not been back to hear him preach - there are different folks preaching every week and he was on again this past Sunday. I am still shocked by what he said and really would like to have others' opinions about this. My husband was just as shocked as I.

Thoughts?

I think you are right to be outraged, that's a terrible thing to say. We are all made in God's image, and he was incarnate to save us. We take it seriously enough that at my church, the priest bows to and censes us (the congregation) along with the icons during Matins. And we bow back.

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

I think its actually kinda funny in a joking kind of way. At Least we are dirtbags now that's for sure, I would rack this up though as needless dissension in the church.

 

[Breaking Babylon]

We'll all return to the dust we're fashioned from. It is true that we have a higher calling than "dirtbag", but look at it humbly... may we all be counted worthy to, at the least, be a "dirtbag" in the Kingdom of God.

He meant no harm.

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

We'll all return to the dust we're fashioned from. It is true that we have a higher calling than "dirtbag", but look at it humbly... may we all be counted worthy to, at the least, be a "dirtbag" in the Kingdom of God.

He meant no harm.

Now that was funny!

 

[tturt]

I've been upset about a thread I consider blaspheming the Holy Spirit but realize that I have to do this verse too

"... forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13.

 

[laconicstudent]

This is the very reason why I'm so glad that my dh isn't a pastor. If they say something positive, they get criticized and if they don't put things in a positive perspective, they get criticized.

We are so easily offended - a tear, a laugh, etc. It doesn't take much.

Not so, but yes, laughingly degrading icons of God as "dirtbags" will certainly do it.

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

Not so, but yes, laughingly degrading icons of God as "dirtbags" will certainly do it.

There is room for laughter my friend, no man should think of himself higher then he ought. I guess though in a more literal sense we are "mudbags" because aren't we mostly water anyways..?

 

[Shadow111]

Thanks for your replies. I found it and still find it to be offensive, as this pastor also uses a lot of "rough" language trying to be "cool". Since we are made in Gods' image and likeness, I don't appreciate being referred to as a dirtbag. Others were grieved as well.

 

[tturt]

I know of a situation where a woman at a church felt very strongly against something, she kept on complaining and complaining until she got it changed. Then 30 couples got upset about that decision and left the church. She regrets saying anything. You never know what the consequences will be.

Another situation where there was a big church disagreement, one of the teenagers wrote God off at that time. From his perspective, they said loving God and others was the most important thing but when it go to it, they couldn't do it. He's about 30 years old now and it is still impacting his life. I know you can say that's just an excuse, etc. Some consequences might not be known until years later.

 

[laconicstudent]

Thanks for your replies. I found it and still find it to be offensive, as this pastor also uses a lot of "rough" language trying to be "cool". Since we are made in Gods' image and likeness, I don't appreciate being referred to as a dirtbag. Others were grieved as well.

I agree

 

[supersoldier71]

If you were offended, you were offended. But Paul referred to his righteousness as filthy rags, and we know what kind of filthy rags he was referring to.

Is the offense in some way rooted in pride? I ask because as an African-American, it's taken me about nine years to get to the point where I cold refer to myself as a bondservant, a slave of Christ. But that was my pride talking.

 

[citizenthom]

Serious advice? Lighten up. If you are this focused on a joke, chances are your uptightness is getting in the way of your actually understanding the teaching. It is a terrible attitude to carry into God's house. God uses humor a lot in the Bible to make very important points, especially in the form of puns, double-entendres, and other verbal humor. And some of it is quite frank (look up what "feet" is a euphemism for in Hebrew and then go read the encounter between Ruth and Boaz).

Furthermore, even if he meant what he said literally, he is 100% theologically correct. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We are fallen; we are immoral; we are base; and it is only through God's love and grace that we become anything else. I'm not sure where your humanist attitude is coming from, but it's not from the Bible.

 

[laconicstudent]

I'm impressed by the sheer number of people who think its appropriate to sneeringly laugh at the image-bearers of God. I wonder how many would describe themselves as pro-life? Ah, what irony.

 

[znr]

A few Sundays ago, during the sermon, our pastor was talking about how God made Adam from clay. Then he went on to say, "yeah, Adam was made from clay, dirt, dust, mud. So what you might say, is that we are all God's dirtbags!"

I was stunned and very much offended. I have not been back to hear him preach - there are different folks preaching every week and he was on again this past Sunday. I am still shocked by what he said and really would like to have others' opinions about this. My husband was just as shocked as I.

Thoughts?

Hilarious. I only wish I were there.